barter
verb
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Definition of barter
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barter
nounDefinition of barter (Entry 2 of 2)
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Other Words from barter
Verb
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noun
Synonyms for barter
Synonyms: Noun
back-and-forth, commutation, dicker, exchange, quid pro quo, swap, trade, trade-off, truck
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Examples of barter in a Sentence
Noun
The tribes use a system of barter. The explorers used blankets and other supplies for barter to get food from the native people.Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
The new Terrestrial Plant Rule lists dame's rocket and 43 other plants that are not to be sold, gifted, bartered, exchanged, distributed, transported or introduced in Indiana. — Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp, Indianapolis Star, "The Hoosier Gardener: Common problems challenge gardeners," 25 July 2019 Don't forget to negotiate Just like bartering at a garage sale, there's often a little wiggle room on both leases and vehicle financing. — Lizz Schumer, Good Housekeeping, "Leasing vs. Buying a Car: How to Decide What's Right for You," 1 Aug. 2019 That’s what social media is: a sad, sprawling bazaar in which attention is exchanged and bartered. — Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, "Among the Chimps," 28 July 2019 Quaint Cotuit is one of seven villages in the town of Barnstable and according to legend, more than 300 years ago Native Americans bartered with early settlers for the current land. — Bill Higgins, BostonGlobe.com, "Cape Cod baseball, where the grass is real and the price is right," 16 July 2019 Meanwhile, bush meat markets still see locals bartering for the animals, both dead and alive. — Washington Post, "Congo’s Ebola outbreak poses challenges for bush meat," 17 June 2018 That is up from zero in the 1990s, when famine pushed North Koreans to start bartering and trading in black markets to survive. — Niharika Mandhana, WSJ, "At Trump-Kim Summit, Host Vietnam Blazes Trail for North Korea," 23 Feb. 2019 For example, the market for national security payloads and NASA missions (James Webb is a notable exception, bartered between NASA and ESA) are typically closed to Arianespace. — Eric Berger, Ars Technica, "As the SpaceX steamroller surges, European rocket industry vows to resist," 20 July 2018 Friends told the British press that Rowley would often search dumpsters for items to barter or sell. — William Booth, Anchorage Daily News, "Woman exposed to nerve agent in southern England dies; police launch murder investigation," 9 July 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
In addition to trade with China, Iran is especially keen on the activation of a barter-type system set up by the Europeans that would allow the continent's businesses to trade with Tehran without violating the U.S. sanctions. — CBS News, "World diplomats hold talks in Vienna in effort to salvage Iran nuclear deal," 28 July 2019 In addition to trade with China, Iran is especially keen on the activation of a barter-type system set up by the Europeans that would allow the continent's businesses to trade with Tehran without violating the U.S. sanctions. — NBC News, "World powers try to save nuclear deal amid mounting tensions between U.S. and Iran," 28 July 2019 With France and Germany, Britain sought to set up a barter system to get food, medicine and other goods to Iran, noting that they were not banned by the unilateral American sanctions. — New York Times, "Trump and Johnson: Allies in Disruption," 23 July 2019 Germany, Britain and France, three of the remaining parties to the deal, are working on a barter system that would allow European businesses to trade with Iran. — Adam Taylor, Washington Post, "The future of the Iranian nuclear deal could hinge on one key detail," 2 July 2019 European powers still on board the deal are setting up a barter-type system known as INSTEX to trade with Tehran. — Washington Post, "The Latest: Top UK diplomat hopes Iran deal can be salvaged," 15 July 2019 There were many meetings on the design of a barter system that might allow Iran to swap oil for other goods, evading US sanctions. — David E. Sanger, BostonGlobe.com, "Iran announces new breach of nuclear deal," 7 July 2019 There were many meetings on the design of a barter system that might allow Iran to swap oil for other goods, evading American sanctions. — David E. Sanger, New York Times, "Iran Announces New Breach of Nuclear Deal Limits and Threatens Further Violations," 7 July 2019 The announcement–giving 10 days’ notice before Iran exceeded limits on enriching uranium–was clearly intended to stir European nations to defy the U.S. sanctions and find a way to keep trading through barter. — Karl Vick, Time, "If Neither Trump Nor Iran Want War, What Do They Want Instead?," 20 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'barter.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for barter
barter
nounFinancial Definition of barter
What It Is
A barter (or bartering) is an exchange between two parties using goods and services for payment instead of currency.
How It Works
The barter system enables two parties to exchange goods or services based on mutually perceived value.
To illustrate, a plumber can fix a baker’s sink, for which the baker would normally have paid $100 for the service. Instead, the baker gives the plumber $100 worth of his baked goods.
Another example would be a photographer agreeing to photograph a dentist's wedding pictures in return for some dental work of equal value.
These transactions do not involve any exchange of currency, however, each party benefits from the transaction.
Why It Matters
People have bartered for goods and services since the dawn of civilization. Historically the barter system has been employed in times of financial crisis when currencies are unstable or when there is no common currency.
In addition, bartering is especially useful for parties that don't have a strong cash position that would normally be used to pay for goods or services.
Source: Investing Answers
barter
verb
English Language Learners Definition of barter
(Entry 1 of 2)
barter
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of barter (Entry 2 of 2)
See the full definition for barter in the English Language Learners Dictionary